The NHL Discussion Thread

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^^^ and ^^^^

 

Gotcha. I'm not totally informed on all the specifics in that situation, but it seems as if it would definitely be better for the NHL if Canada got at least a team or two back.

 

 

By the way, I need for all the Penguin fans and Ovie bashers to come eat some crow. Hockey Jesus just lost in 7 games to the same team that Ovie did and did WAYYYYYY worse in the series than Ovie did, so where are you guys at???

 

 

How many Stanley cups have the capitals won? How many Stanley cup finals have the Capitals been in? And how many game 7s have the Capitals blown.

 

 

The Capitals loss to the Habs is FAR worse than the Pens. Going up 3-1 only to lose is REALLY, REALLY bad.

[FeelTheFORCE]

By the way, I need for all the Penguin fans and Ovie bashers to come eat some crow. Hockey Jesus just lost in 7 games to the same team that Ovie did and did WAYYYYYY worse in the series than Ovie did, so where are you guys at???

 

Why? All that did was assure that everything picked up right where it left off. Yes the Caps went 4-0 against the Penguins this year, but the Penguins still have that game 7 win over Washington, and the last time I checked, the Capitals were the powerhouse of the NHL, rolling right through opponents the entire year, and got bounced by an 8 seed, after being up 3-1 in the series, mind you. Yes, the Penguins lost to that same team also, but they were a 4 seed and were far from dominating all year long. It'll be fun watching Ovechkin's body fall apart in 5 years because of his aggressive (and cheap) playing style, while Crosby has already set himself up to score goals with ease at age 35+. Read my post on the Crosby/Ovechkin debate I posted on page 35. It was written after the first round, so ignore some bits, but the core points still hold water.

 

Penguins - 3

Capitals - 0

 

Crosby - 1

Ovechkin - 0

[chemical_echo]

Thank you Montreal!

 

Bye Bye Penguins, and bye bye Crosby!

[Skycoastin Steve]

Either way, Pittsburgh mocked the crap out of Washington for losing to the 8 seed, and lo and behold, they nabbed you guys too, with your superstar having a far worse series. That's what happens when you go up against a hot goalie.

 

I just don't know what ESPN is going to do with Crosby and Lebron about to exit their respective playoffs on consecutive days. They may implode, for there is no chosen one to shove down our throats anymore!

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^ ESPN doesn't talk about hockey. All it is is baseball, basketball and football all the time.

 

I doubt anyone watching ESPN knows anything about the NHL.

[FeelTheFORCE]

^ Yep, I was going to say the same thing. If anything, everyone at ESPN, ESPECIALLY Barry Melrose, are all on Ovechkin's bandwagon anyway.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

Well

 

Flyers and Bruins are going to a game 7 too.

[Skycoastin Steve]

^They actually cover the playoffs pretty well, Matthew Barnaby and Barry Melrose are the main guys who cover it. There's also always a segment on the afternoon talk shows dedicated to the NHL playoffs.

[FeelTheFORCE]

^ I don't know what you watch, but Barnaby and Melrose are incredibly biased and are pretty bad "analysts." They are annoying as hell.

 

ESPN will do what seems like a 30 second segment on the NHL, then spend the next 20 minutes on the NBA playoffs, MLB, Tiger Woods, etc. (I'm exaggerating, of course).

 

Hell, right before I typed this, Melrose pretty much blamed the loss entirely on Crosby...are you freaking kidding me?! Yes this wasn't the best game of his career, but look at Fleury and the defense's play tonight. Lastly, for the record, Melrose talked for about a minute or two, then focus shifted to the Cavs, WHO DIDN'T EVEN PLAY TONIGHT, and they went on for a good 5+ minutes.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^Seriously

 

 

Fleury was terrible and Gonchar seemed like he just didn't care.

[Dailey Enterprizes]

My hat is off to the Canadiens. The better team won this time around and after watching them shut down Pittsburgh I think they will probably be in the Stanley Cup Finals for sure. I agree the Pens seemed they didn't care a whole lot after that 5th goal. I sure did, but when that is already in their heads the game is pretty much over.

 

With that said I am still not sorry for the great things the Penguins and Crosby have done for Pittsburgh and I can't wait to see them play again, but this time it will be in the Consol Energy Center,

[Skycoastin Steve]

^ I don't know what you watch, but Barnaby and Melrose are incredibly biased and are pretty bad "analysts." They are annoying as hell.

 

ESPN will do what seems like a 30 second segment on the NHL, then spend the next 20 minutes on the NBA playoffs, MLB, Tiger Woods, etc. (I'm exaggerating, of course).

 

Hell, right before I typed this, Melrose pretty much blamed the loss entirely on Crosby...are you freaking kidding me?! Yes this wasn't the best game of his career, but look at Fleury and the defense's play tonight. Lastly, for the record, Melrose talked for about a minute or two, then focus shifted to the Cavs, WHO DIDN'T EVEN PLAY TONIGHT, and they went on for a good 5+ minutes.

 

So they're annoying and bad analysts because they talked bad about the golden boy? He had 5 points in a 7 game series, including only one goal. If Crosby scoring a ton of points was a big reason they beat Ottawa, then how is his disappearance in this series not a big reason they lost? As I said before, Pens fans were pretty quick to pile on Ovechkin, who didn't have a horrible series against Montreal, but now are rushing to the defense of Crosby who was a ghost for 7 games.

[BeemerBoy]

^ ESPN doesn't talk about hockey. All it is is baseball, basketball and football all the time.

 

I doubt anyone watching ESPN knows anything about the NHL.

 

Sorry, but this statement is complete BS. There are PLENTY of hockey fans who still watch ESPN, and can remember when the network did wonders for the league. If you'd like to place blame on someone for ESPN's lack of coverage, find Gary Bettman and have a word with him.

 

 

but it seems as if it would definitely be better for the NHL if Canada got at least a team or two back.

Yes. In fact, I've been nominating Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, and Florida for that role years now. I'd even go a step further and give Hartford the Whalers back, and let Minnesota have the North Stars back as well. The "Wild" remains the WORST name of any of the "Big 4" professional sports teams.

 

Finally, Barry Melrose is awesome. Period.

[bigstevet07]

I would love ESPN to get some NHL coverage back. That way they can show more than one playoff game at a time. Versus just isn't enough, and the NHL network isn't contributing much right now. Plus, I loved Gary Thorne calling games on ESPN.

 

On a side note, the Eastern Conference playoffs have been great. I'm a little sad that the Pens lost just because I wanted the Flyers to have a shot at Cindy Crosby. Who would have thought that either the 6 or 7 seed would be facing the 8 seed in the finals.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Yes. In fact, I've been nominating Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, and Florida for that role years now. I'd even go a step further and give Hartford the Whalers back, and let Minnesota have the North Stars back as well. The "Wild" remains the WORST name of any of the "Big 4" professional sports teams.

 

Finally, Barry Melrose is awesome. Period.

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree on those two teams. Carolina and Dallas have built pretty good franchises and have won Stanley Cups since moving from their original cities. Even Tampa somehow managed a Stanley Cup, although that team is atrocious nowadays. I agree on the Wild being a pretty horrifically awful nickname for a franchise, only slightly above the Oklahoma City Thunder as the worst nickname in pro sports.

[lil jimmy norton]

I hate the Habs, but I hate teams from the West more, so, I guess I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Um, go Habs.

[Josh Linn]

^ ESPN doesn't talk about hockey. All it is is baseball, basketball and football all the time.

 

I doubt anyone watching ESPN knows anything about the NHL.

 

Sorry, but this statement is complete BS. There are PLENTY of hockey fans who still watch ESPN, and can remember when the network did wonders for the league. If you'd like to place blame on someone for ESPN's lack of coverage, find Gary Bettman and have a word with him.

 

 

but it seems as if it would definitely be better for the NHL if Canada got at least a team or two back.

Yes. In fact, I've been nominating Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, and Florida for that role years now. I'd even go a step further and give Hartford the Whalers back, and let Minnesota have the North Stars back as well. The "Wild" remains the WORST name of any of the "Big 4" professional sports teams.

 

Finally, Barry Melrose is awesome. Period.

 

It would be a little repetitive to have two teams named the Stars and North Stars in the same league, not to mention Dallas took the North Stars history, so I was cool with the "new team, new name" idea, and the Wild is a MUCH better name than the Oklahoma City Thunder (coming from a Thunder fan).

 

And the way things are going it doesn't look like Canada is getting a team back until Bettman is gone, because for some reason he's dead set against it. Winnipeg for sure needs a team, Quebec City as well if they get a new arena. Not sure about Hamilton because of the proximity of Buffalo and Toronto, but the previous two deserve the Jets and Nordiques back.

[BeemerBoy]

^ I think you're taking the statement a little too literal there.

 

How about I simplify it and say I want the league the way it was up until right after the addition of the Sharks? Every expansion and relocation after that was more ammo added before they eventually ended up playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded pistol.......and lost. The league sucks compared to what it was pre-2/1/93. I'll leave it at that.

[Josh Linn]

^ I think you're taking the statement a little too literal there.

 

How about I simplify it and say I want the league the way it was up until right after the addition of the Sharks? Every expansion and relocation after that was more ammo added before they eventually ended up playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded pistol.......and lost. The league sucks compared to what it was pre-2/1/93. I'll leave it at that.

 

I can understand that...since the Sharks, the only expansion or moved teams that didn't replace another team that have worked out have been the Ducks and to an extent, the Hurricanes. You could possibly make a case for the Blue Jackets because they have a decent fan base, but they've only made the playoffs once.

[ParkTrips]

Finally, Barry Melrose is awesome. Period.

The mullet will never be as good as Don Cherry

[dandaman]

^Absolutely this. Back when I played minor hockey I'd watch Coach's Corner on HNIC every Saturday night for highlights and pointers.

[Josh Linn]

Wow...Flyers were down 3-0 in the first period and have come back to tie it. Danny Briere is finally earning that contract we gave him.

[DiveMachine]

FLYERS MAKE HISTORY

[FeelTheFORCE]

Ha, watch Montreal get steamrolled. I still say whoever wins the west will win the Cup.

[chemical_echo]

Yes. In fact, I've been nominating Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, and Florida for that role years now. I'd even go a step further and give Hartford the Whalers back, and let Minnesota have the North Stars back as well. The "Wild" remains the WORST name of any of the "Big 4" professional sports teams.

 

Finally, Barry Melrose is awesome. Period.

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree on those two teams. Carolina and Dallas have built pretty good franchises and have won Stanley Cups since moving from their original cities. Even Tampa somehow managed a Stanley Cup, although that team is atrocious nowadays. I agree on the Wild being a pretty horrifically awful nickname for a franchise, only slightly above the Oklahoma City Thunder as the worst nickname in pro sports.

The relocated teams winning cups really has nothing to do with them moving markets. What I think he was getting at was that even Hartford would be a better market for hockey again over places like Florida, Atlanta, Nashville, or Phoenix.

 

I also wouldn't say Bettman isn't the reason hockey isn't back in Canada, it's more of the cities being the reason. NHL expects the cities to have better updated arenas before teams can go back. I guarantee that as soon as Quebec City's new arena is built the Nordiques will be back.